If a child asks in KS3 science class "is it possible to change sex?"...

[musicalfrog]

What answer would they be given by the teacher?

How does one function as the opposite sex whilst not being of that sex? A male person cannot begin to produce eggs and a female person cannot begin to produce sperm after "sex change" or "gender reassignment" surgery or treatments.

If it was in a GCSE paper then obviously you'd say it was wrong because it was.

Remember the context to OP's question is a science class. It is NOT possible change sex, and given that it's not unheard of for teens to think that a natal female being trans means they no longer risk pregnancy I'd say it was vital that we tell them the absolute truth - which is that the person's body will always be the same sex they born as, but they can mimic the appearance of the opposite sex with surgery and adopt the appearance society associates traditionally with the opposite sex.

It would be beyond cruel to tell kids anything else tbh. And yeah, they might well say to someone outside school 'well miss said you can't change sex so you're wrong' - but show me a teen who has never said anything in that know-it-all manner teens have! It's what they do.

What does ‘functioning individuals of the opposite sex’ mean? There’s another supplementary question that would be appropriate here.

Regarding your follow up question - if someone followed up and asked but I said on the news X had a sex change….what do you say then? - I think that has been answered multiple times on the thread. Having body parts altered and putting on clothes or make up doesn’t change a persons sex, only how they choose to express themselves.

Apologies I jumped the gun a little with my first response….what I mean is that given that sex and gender are often used interchangeably I think it’s important to address both if the question is asked by a child regarding changing sex. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to assume they mean gender and the best thing to do is to explain both given the relevance of sex and gender.

If the op didn’t think this too she wouldn’t have started this thread because the fact out answer would be no. However this is not as black and white as that given the interchangeability of sex and gender and how often the term ‘sex change’ is used instead of gender reassignment

This seems like the answer right here. The trick is to be factual without saying yes or no to avoid the complaint from either side of the debate.

its cruel to say to someone you’re wrong about who you are

‘How they choose to express themselves’…wow.

My teacher had a 'sex change' at university in the 80s.

I think whatever you answer you'd get into trouble on way or another. Never mind being fired by the school for saying No, if you said Yes and one of the kids parents was a mumsnetter then you'd be hounded out of your job I expect.

In the Department for Education standards for PHSE lessons need to be factual. So you need to talk the actual science and point out beliefs are not fact. A teacher giving facts are following the rules!

Then explain the fact that the term sex change is often misused and that people can change gender

I actually don't think that term is used these days, is it?

Anyway I'd say they're technically wrong as it's not possible to change sex.

The thing is "can change gender" is a fairly meaningless term, it's interpreted differently by different people and has no clear simple definition. "Gender" is cultural and social, changes through time and place. What is coded masculine in some situations is coded feminine in others.

its cruel to say to someone you’re wrong about who you are

Teens can be blunt and cruel. However telling them the truth, explaining what surgery can and can't do, is the only responsible course of action. If a teenager uses said truth in a cruel manner, that's really not the responsibility of the teacher.

Same as if a teen was mocking to someone who believed the world was made 2000 years ago by God and they had learnt in their science class it was made billions of years ago. We don't tell teens it was made by God just in case any of them are cruel about that knowledge.

Surely there is a school policy on how things like this are addressed?

I think in a science class it ia important to be scientific and accurate.

I'd be inclined to say something like

Its not possible to actually change sex, but many people choose to have what is sometimes called a 'sex change operation' which involves surgery to make a body look more like the opposite sex

Then depending on the reaction, further questions etc I might expand to include stuff about treating everyone fairly, about how the reproductive organs won't work in the opposite sexed way a eg a man who has undergone a sex change op won't have periods as it's just cosmetic, not about replicating the biological functions

And crucially any girl or woman who has undergone a sex change op may still be able to get pregnant

I think the more usual term is 'have asex change operation' rather than 'have a sex change' btw, and I'd argue that terminology is old fashioned and has been replaced with the much more accurate 'gender reassignment'

No single person has ever changed sex. It's not possible.

Yes I agree with opening with that and ending with the but you can't biologically change the chromosomes you were born with from XX or XY.

Science is a great subject to be asked because you can give a scientific answer.

I agree people use these questions and facts to weaponise their agenda.

Just tell them it's not what you're covering today and to focus on the lesson and ask their parents when they get home

I do t think the two points of view being debated are mutually exclusive.

I would happily explain, if asked, that it's impossible to change your biological sex.

I would also happily explain that some people use surgery and medication to appear to have the characteristics of the opposite sex. I can be clear that they haven't actually changed sex whilst also acknowledging they exist and need to be treated fairly and respectfully. This isn't a repeat of the 80s where we weren't allowed to acknowledge homosexuality in the classroom, but nor should we be saying things that are scientifically incorrect.

Teachers aren't paid enough and don't have enough Teaching time to be brave.

This is the correct answer for a science class.

You can’t change your chromosomes or gametes but you can change other sexed aspects of your body, which affects your phenotype. “You cannot change sex” is an incomplete and misleading answer. The answer requires nuance.

It can be followed up with a discussion of gametes, chromosomes and how hormones shape the body.

Bloody hell really? Aren't teachers supposed to care about the kids they teach?

You can’t change your chromosomes or gametes but you can change other sexed aspects of your body, which affects your phenotype. “You cannot change sex” is an incomplete and misleading answer. The answer requires nuance.

Changing your body doesn't change your sex. If a woman has a mastectomy due to cancer, that doesn't make her less of a woman.

No nuance is required. Sex and gender are different things. Trans women are still men and trans men are still women.

Gender isn't a discussion for a science class.

Can you point to these medical marvels who have managed to change their chromosomes, DNA, muscle mass, skeletons and grown the inner organs of the opposite sex please?

This is science though, yes the term "sex change" used to be used. And everyone knew that it just meant someone was a transsexual, they knew they hadn't actually changed their sex. Now, in this brave new world of 99 genders and identifying as whatever you feel like children are believing that changing your sex is actually possible. We're letting a whole generation down here!